Using Motor Imagery and Machine Learning-Based Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback to Improve Motor Function in Cerebellar Ataxia
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Sponsor
- Johns Hopkins University
- Enrollment
- 12
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in at-home overt tapping accuracy as assessed by finger tapping to a flashing cue at 4Hz speed
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This project will study the feasibility of motor rehabilitation in people with cerebellar ataxia using real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NF) in conjunction with motor imagery. To do so, data will be collected from healthy adults in this protocol, to be compared with data from cerebellar ataxia participants.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •18-100 years of age
- •At least 8th-grade education
- •Right-handedness
Exclusion Criteria
- •History of Axis I psychiatric disorders (including alcohol and drug dependence)
- •Severe or unstable medical disorder, neurological disorders, such as stroke or epilepsy
- •History of head injury that resulted in a loss of consciousness greater than 5 minutes and/or neurological sequelae
- •Any condition that is contraindicated for the MRI environment (e.g., metal in the body, pacemaker, claustrophobia)
- •Currently pregnant
- •Eligible subjects may be asked to refrain from medications that affect the central nervous system that would also make data difficult to interpret (e.g., sedatives) for an appropriate period of time prior to scanning
- •Participants will be excluded if they do not have a home computer with internet available to complete the 3-week at-home component of the study protocol
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in at-home overt tapping accuracy as assessed by finger tapping to a flashing cue at 4Hz speed
Time Frame: Baseline and At-home sessions (10 minutes/day), up to 23 days
Accuracy at baseline will be compared to that of final assessment, which will take place before and after the 3-week at-home practice sessions, respectively. The delta measure will indicate the magnitude of tapping accuracy improvements. Groups will be compared to examine differences in delta as a function of practice condition (imagery only, tapping only, or imagery plus tapping). At-home tapping performance will be compared to MRI tapping performance. RMSE (root mean squared error) is the measure for both the baseline and post-treatment behavioral tasks. RMSE will be based on the actual number of taps per second relative to the expected number of taps per second (e.g., 4 taps for 4Hz). Then post treatment RMSE minus baseline RMSE will determine a delta RMSE. A higher RMSE signifies greater error. For the delta measure, it is expected, lower scores reflect greater improvement on the task.
Change in overt tapping accuracy as assessed by finger tapping to a flashing cue at 1Hz speed
Time Frame: Baseline and MRI duration, up to 1 hour
During the MRI session, accuracy on overt tapping will be measured by the distance of the actual tapping rate vs. target rate (1Hz). Accuracy at baseline will be compared to that of final assessment, which will take place before and after neurofeedback training, respectively. The difference in accuracy between the two tests create a delta measure (i.e., fewer errors in the final vs. baseline tests). This delta accuracy will indicate the magnitude of tapping accuracy improvements. Root mean squared error (RMSE) is the measure for both the baseline and post-treatment behavioral tasks. RMSE will be based on the actual number of taps per second relative to the expected number of taps per second (e.g., 1 tap for 1Hz). Then post treatment RMSE minus baseline RMSE will determine a delta RMSE. A higher RMSE signifies greater error. For the delta measure, it is expected, lower scores reflect greater improvement on the task.
Change in overt tapping accuracy as assessed by finger tapping to a flashing cue at 4Hz speed
Time Frame: Baseline and MRI duration, up to 1 hour
During the MRI session, accuracy on overt tapping will be measured by the distance of the actual tapping rate vs. target rate (4Hz). Accuracy at baseline will be compared to that of final assessment, which will take place before and after neurofeedback training, respectively. The difference in accuracy between the two tests create a delta measure (i.e., fewer errors in the final vs. baseline tests). This delta accuracy will indicate the magnitude of tapping accuracy improvements. RMSE (root mean squared error) is the measure for both the baseline and post-treatment behavioral tasks. RMSE will be based on the actual number of taps per second relative to the expected number of taps per second (e.g., 4 taps for 4Hz). Then post treatment RMSE minus baseline RMSE will determine a delta RMSE. A higher RMSE signifies greater error. For the delta measure, it is expected, lower scores reflect greater improvement on the task.
Change in at-home overt tapping accuracy as assessed by finger tapping to a flashing cue at 1Hz speed
Time Frame: Baseline and At-home sessions (10 minutes/day), up to 23 days
Accuracy at baseline will be compared to that of final assessment, which will take place before and after the 3-week at-home practice sessions, respectively. The delta measure will indicate the magnitude of tapping accuracy improvements. Groups will be compared to examine differences in delta as a function of practice condition (imagery only, tapping only, or imagery plus tapping). At-home tapping performance will be compared to MRI tapping performance. RMSE (root mean squared error) is the measure for both the baseline and post-treatment behavioral tasks. RMSE will be based on the actual number of taps per second relative to the expected number of taps per second (e.g., 1 tap for 1Hz). Then post treatment RMSE minus baseline RMSE will determine a delta RMSE. A higher RMSE signifies greater error. For the delta measure, it is expected, lower scores reflect greater improvement on the task.
Secondary Outcomes
- The correlation between MRI BOLD and finger tapping accuracy to a flashing cue at 4Hz as assessed by a correlation coefficient(MRI duration, up to 1 hour)
- The correlation between the ICARS and imagery accuracy of the slider bar from target on the MRI task as assessed by a correlation coefficient(Up to 1.5 hours)
- The correlation between MRI BOLD and finger tapping accuracy to a flashing cue at 1Hz as assessed by a correlation coefficient(MRI duration, up to 1 hour)
- The correlation between the KVIQ and imagery accuracy of the slider bar from target on the MRI task as assessed by a correlation coefficient(Up to 1.5 hours)